Journal-box lid.



J. S. MOWHIRTER.

JOURNAL BOX LID. APPLICATION IILBD 0012.12, 1912.

Patented May 12, 1914.

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JOHN S. MCWHIRTER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

JOURNAL-BOX LID.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Pat entcd May 12, 1914.

Application filed October 12, 1912. Serial No. 725,390.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN S. McVVHnrrnn, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at 3609 Broadway, New York, county of New York, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Journal-Box Lids, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to journal boxes, particularly to a new and improved journal box lid and to the cooperating parts of the journal box.

One of the problems encountered in the manufacture of railway journal boxes is that of providing suitable means for attaching and locking the lid so that while it may be easily removed to afford convenient access for the insertion and removal of packing, etc., it is at the same time held tightly against the lips of the opening so that dust and grit are excluded. This problem is rendered more difficult by the continued jar and vibration to which journal boxes are subject in practice, and because of the fact that when in use, the journal box is subject to a shower of dust, cinder-s and grit. Under these circumstances, if the lid has any play or lost motion, grit will work into the box. No rigid fastening which is easily operated will prevent vibration of the lid relatively to the opening or seat, and consequent admission of grit to the box. To overcome this difficulty I provide a heavy spring of sufficient tension to prevent vibration of the lid. This serves to press the lid against its seat on the box. Preferably I use a single spring, the pressure of which is applied by means of a bolt. In order that a single spring may suffice, I so incline the lid seat and lips, and the cooperating portions of the lid and box, that by applying pressure along a single line, as by means of a single bolt, the lid is pressed against its seat at all points, and in order that the lid may be easily removed when thus held in place by means of a heavy spring, I prefer to have the bolt, by means of which the spring pressure is applied, protrude at both ends so that both ends are accessible, and I also provide, adjacent one end of the bolt, a seat for a bar so that a long lever may be utilized to compress the spring in looking and unlocking the lid, such lever being a separate tool and not attached to the journal box.

Described more particularly, the device in its preferred form consists of a journal box having a lid opening and an aperture for a bolt adjacent such opening, the lid having an aperture in alinement with the one in the box, a bolt passing through both openings so that both ends of the bolt protrude, means on the bolt for engaging the lid, and a spring for applying tension to the bolt to hold the lid on its seat.

In the accompanying drawing I have shown a portion of a journal box embodying the various features of my invention in their preferred form. Figure 1 is an elevation of the box and lid. Fig. 2 is a vertical, central section taken at right angles to Fig. 1, showing the lid and a portion of the box.

The device consists of a journal box 1 in the usual form, having an opening 2 at the end for the insertion of packing and the like. Surrounding the lid opening there are lips 3 having seating surfaces t for the lid. As shown, the lip at the top side of the opening is preferably upright, while that which extends along the lower side is shown as horizontal. I have indicated the upright portion of the lip by reference character 5 and the horizontal portion by reference character 6, the whole member being indicated in a general way by reference character 3. It will be noted that the seating surface f is curved, a portion of its length being in side elevation a little less than a quarter circle, the top seating surface being a substantially horizontal and the bottom inclined at an acute angle with the vertical, so that the lid fitting the seat, if subject to vertical downward pressure applied near its center, will be forced against the seat at all points.

The lid which I use in connection with the journal box, indicated by reference character 7 shaped to conform to the seat at all points and is provided on three sides with an edge flange 8 which takes over the corresponding portion of the lip and prevents displacement of the lid. At the bottom the flange is omitted, but the lid conforms to the seat 4 at this point as elsewhere.

For the purpose of holding the lid in position on the seat, I provide a bolt 9 which, as shown, and in the preferred form, is sul'istantially vertical, the lower or hori zontal lip 6 pierced at 10 to receive the '..i.

bolt, and the lid is provided with a horizontal seat 11 which is pierced at 12 in aline- N and, ii-N ment with the aperture 10 to permit the upper end of the bolt to protrude through the lid, the seat 11 being provided to receive a fastening member 13 shown in the form of a pin which fits and passes through a slot 14 in the bolt. By observation of Fig. 1 it will be noted that the pin 13 is provided with a stop member 15 at each end to lock the pin and prevent its withdrawal. The smaller stop is of suitable length to permit it to pass through the slot when the bolt is advanced for this purpose. On the inside of the lid beneath the seat 11 and preferably adjacent the lower edge of the lid, is a lug 16 apertured at 17 in alinement with the openings 10 and 12 to receive and engage the bolt at a point intermediate of its length and assist in locking the lid in position.

It will be noted that the bolt 9 is of a length considerably in excess of the distance between the bottom of the horizontal lip 6 and the top of the seat 11, and the lower end of the bolt, above the head 18, is encircled by a spiral spring 19 which is compressed between the head and the horizontal lip 6. This spring serves to apply tension to the bolt 9, and the latter thus applies continuous downward pressure to the center of the lid. so that the lid is forced against the seat at all points. Unseating of the lid by excessive jars is further prevented by the lug 16 which engages the belt at 17 near the bottom lip. At a point adjacent and preferably a little below the bolt head, the journal box is provided with a socket or other suitable sup port 20 to receive the end of a barn To close the journal box the lid is first placed on its seat and the bolt, encircled by the spring, is passed upward through the opening 10 in the horizontal lip 6 and the opening 17 in the lug 16 and the opening 12 in the seat 11 on the lid, the spring taking a bearing against the lower side of the lip 6 and the bolt head. A suitable bar is then passed beneath the bolt head with its end in the seat 20, and the bolt is forced upward, compressing the sprin and when the bolt is sufiiciently advanced, the pin 13 is inserted. in the slot 1.4; provided therefor. To unlock the lid, the operation is reversed.

The device which I have described serves to hold the lid in position under all circumstances, and to prevent vibration of the lid as a result of the various jars and shocks to which the box is subject in use, and in this way admission of grit and dust to the hearing is prevented.

I have thus described specifically a single embodiment of my invention in order that its nature and operation may be clearly understood. However, the specific terms here in are used in. their descriptive rather than in their limiting sense and the scope of the invention is defined in the claims.

I claim- 1. In combination, a journal box having an inclined opening with a vertical lip at the top and a horizontal lip at the bottom pierced to receive a bolt, the lid flanged to take over the top lip and having a. lug, and a seat pierced to receive a bolt, the bolt passing vertically through the horizontal lip, the lugand the seat, means resting on the seat en aging the bolt to hold it in position, and a spiral spring encircling the bolt and hearing against the bottom of the horizontal lip applying tension to the bolt.

2. In combination, a journal box having an inclined opening with a vertical lip at the top and a horizontal lip at the bottom pierced. to receive a bolt, the lid flanged'to take over the top lip and having a lug, and a seat pierced to receive a bolt, the bolt passing vertically through the horizontal lip, the lug and the seat, means in the form of a notched pin resting on the seat and engag: ing the bolt to hold it in position, a spiral spring encircling the bolt and bearing against the bottom of the horizontal lip, and a seat for a bar adjacent the bolt head.

3. In combination, a journal box having a lid opening with an inclined face, an up right lip extending along the top edge of the opening and a horizontal lip apertured to receive a bolt at the bottom side of the opening, a lid having a top flange to take over the top lip and adapted to rest against the edge of the horizontal lip, a lug on the inside of the lid pierced to receive a bolt, the lid being shaped with a horizontal seat near the top, pierced in alinement with the lug, a bolt passing vertically through the horizontal lip, the lug and the seat, and slotted transversely, pin in the slot resting on the seat, and a spring encircling the lower end of the bolt and bearing against the bolt head and the bottom of the horizontal lip.

'-1-. In combination, a journal box having an opening for the introduction of packing, etc., a seat surrounding the opening and a lid thereon, a single spring acting on the lid near its center of gravity to hold it in engagement with the seat at all points.

Signed by me at New York city this tenth day of September 1912.

Trroams J. TYn AN, J. F. LAMB.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

